"A fruit?"
Hearing Yae Miko's request, Raiden Ei glanced at the tree laden with bright red fruit. They looked incredibly sweet.
"Sara, pick a few for her."
As her friend, Ei felt this was only right. After all, it was her last meal.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Kujou Sara obediently picked several fruits and handed them to Yae Miko.
"Sigh…" Holding the fruit, Yae Miko didn't eat it. Instead, she let out a long sigh. "Such sweet fruit… after this, who knows when I'll ever get to eat something like this again."
"Wait." Ei interrupted her. "You're saying these fruits are sweet?"
"Very sweet."
As she spoke, Yae Miko lifted one toward her mouth.
Swish.
In that instant, Ei moved decisively, snatching the fruit and taking a bite.
"Mmm… so sweet."
Indeed, Yae Miko hadn't lied. The fruit was incredibly sweet—something even Ei had never tasted before.
Without hesitation, she grabbed the remaining fruits from Yae Miko.
"Miko, since you're about to be eliminated anyway, it's better not to waste food."
"You're really like this…" Yae Miko looked aggrieved, though inwardly she was delighted. "Look at her—hogging all the food. So many fruits, and she won't even share."
That made Ei feel slightly embarrassed. After all, if Sara hadn't saved her earlier, she might have already been eliminated.
She handed two fruits to Sara.
"These are very sweet. You should try them."
"Thank you, Your Excellency."
Kujou Sara accepted them. In truth, she didn't trust Yae Miko—but since Ei had given them personally, even if they were poisoned, she would eat them.
She took a bite.
Sweet.
After finishing the fruit, Ei showed a satisfied expression. She had no idea what kind of fruit it was, but it was delicious.
If only something like this existed in Inazuma.
After a brief moment of reflection, Ei raised her gun again.
"Alright, time to send you off—…why is my head spinning?"
"This is bad, Your Excellency. It's a trap by Lady Yae!"
Kujou Sara reacted quickly.
"Oh ho ho~~~~"
Seeing Ei barely able to stand, Yae Miko dropped the act. She stood up and easily reclaimed her gun.
"Ei… now tell me… how should I deal with you?"
"Miko… you…"
Thud.
Ei collapsed to the ground.
"Heh, trying to eliminate me? Dream on."
Yae Miko found some rope inside the house and tied both of them up securely. Only then did she return to her own island and merge this one.
In an instant, her island expanded again. The house and fruit tree now belonged entirely to her.
"I see."
With ownership transferred, Yae Miko immediately understood the nature of the fruit.
It induced drowsiness and full-body weakness upon consumption.
"Perfect. All mine now."
This was great.
Not only had she survived, but she could now take revenge on Ei.
She felt completely refreshed.
"Ho ho ho~~~~ ho ho ho ho~~~~!"
Her unrestrained laughter echoed across the island.
…
Some time later, the situation had completely reversed.
Looking at the gun pointed at her forehead, Ei's eyes burned with anger.
"Miko, you're despicable."
"This is called being clever. You wouldn't understand."
Squatting down slowly, Yae Miko pulled out a tree branch.
"So… how should I deal with you?"
"You wouldn't dare!"
Ei's voice rose sharply.
"Heh. What wouldn't I dare do?"
She couldn't take revenge on Valerius—but Ei? That was a different story.
Seeing the branch raised, Ei's voice turned cold. "Go ahead. Let's see how I deal with you once we're out of the game."
The raised hand froze midair.
Right.
This wasn't Valerius.
If Ei decided to retaliate later…
But she had already talked big. Backing down now would make her look weak.
"Don't harm Her Excellency! If you must, take it out on me!"
Smack!
The branch landed squarely on Kujou Sara's backside.
If she couldn't hit Ei, she could hit Sara.
After all, Sara had volunteered.
"Miko, you—…ah—Miko, run!"
At first, Ei was furious that Miko actually struck Sara. But then she noticed something in the distance.
Her eyes widened as she squirmed away.
"Heh. Cheap trick."
Yae Miko crossed her arms, unimpressed.
Trying to distract her?
Did they think she was that easy to fool?
"Hurry! Faster!"
"Are you stupid? Something's really coming!"
Ei almost wanted to cry.
Could she at least turn around and look?!
"…Wait."
Now even Yae Miko sensed something was off.
She heard something cutting through the air.
Turning around—
A massive boulder was flying straight toward them.
"What is that?!"
She froze.
She only had guns—and someone else already had a catapult?!
"It's over… it's over…"
There was no time to dodge.
Boom!
The boulder slammed into the island, sending up clouds of dust. The entire island shook violently.
[Attention: Player Klee has eliminated Player Yae Miko.]
[Attention: Player Klee has eliminated Player Raiden Ei.]
[Attention: Player Klee has eliminated Player Kujou Sara.]
"Yay!"
In the distance, a massive floating island rang with Klee's cheerful voice.
Her island was on an entirely different scale—fully equipped with propulsion systems, catapults, watchtowers, and even a whimsical castle.
"I got the points!"
She ran around happily, the bell on her backpack jingling.
Then, the fishing float dipped again.
"What did I get this time?"
She trotted over and pulled it up.
A golden chest emerged.
"Oh… another catapult blueprint?"
Her excitement instantly faded.
She had already fished up three of these.
Sure, they were powerful—but expensive. Even she had only managed to build two.
And since they appeared so often…
They probably weren't that valuable after all.
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